The Fabric of the Generations

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 9:42 am Post subject: The Fabric of the Generations

The Fabric of the Generations

Scripture:

Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved. For God has made the father honorable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, has confirmed it upon the children. He that loves God, shall obtain pardon for his sin by prayer, and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer of days. And he that honors his mother is as one that lays up a treasure. He that honors his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.

Glory not in the dishonor of your father: for his shame is no glory to you. For the glory of a man is from the honor of his father, and a father without honor is the disgrace of the son. Son, support the old age of your father, and grieve him not in his life. (Sira 3:2-6, 12-14)

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the depths of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience: Bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another. Even as the Lord has forgiven you, so do you also. But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly: in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it behooves in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter towards them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to indignation, lest they be discouraged. (Colossians 3:12-21)

And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch. And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast, and having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And his parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day?s journey and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why have you done so to us? Behold your father and I have sought you sorrowing. And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about the business of my father? And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace with God and men. (Luke 2:41-52)

Reflection:

From generation to generation responsibilities and blessings are passed. Children are called to respect their parents and parents are given responsibility to care for their children. It is so that one generation passes to the next. The bond which enables each generation is the love between parent and child, love of God and He for all the children of His creation. It is the bond of love upon which all the commandments rest and the covenant of the Lord with the children of His creation.

Parents are called to care for their children until the passing of days yields the time where each child is called to assume their vocation within the community and, if called, to establish families of their own. As time passes, the children may be called to care for their parents as the elders approach their end of days. Blessed are the parents who care for their children and raise them to know the blessings of the Lord. Blessed are the children who respect their parents and the Lord, for the day will come when the love they render will return to them. It is for this reason we are called to honor our father and mother, for as the family is strengthened in love, so too are communities and nations. Through love, no wrong is done.

We all come into the world through the union of father and mother. It is the way He made us so that the generations would come forth, form and grow. Through the bonds of family are also found the bonds of His church; for as one cares for another, so too will families care for each other within communities. All become part of one body, the body of Christ; and what holds the body together is love.

It is for this reason that mothers and fathers are called to come together in love, for if their union is rooted in selfishness, the foundation of love will be absent. It is the strength of love which gives strength to the family. It is love which leads one to sacrifice for another. It is for this reason parents are called to love their children, for as they give love they set the example for the time the child is called to care for the generation to come and the generation which will pass. As love is passed from generation to generation, foundations are set; but where love is absent and selfishness prevails, the fabric of the generations unravel, yielding misery and strife.

Every life is precious in His sight and all are called to love the children which are brought forth. If for any reason a father is absent, the extended family should come together to help the mother care for the child; and if for any reason the mother is absent, the extended family should come together to help the father care for the child; and if for any reason the father and mother are absent, the extended family should come together to care for the child. If for any reason father, mother and extended family are absent, a family from the community should come forward to care for the child as their own, for God has a purpose for every life and every child deserves love.

There is much in the world which lays in wait to tear families asunder. This is the way of evil, for if love is removed from the family, so shall it be removed from communities, yielding divisions. As communities are divided, so too shall be nations. As the people walk the world divided, generations crumble into darkness. Faith in His love and living according to the example of His love will bring forth the light and stem the tide of darkness.

And so it was the Son set about the work of the Father to bring light to the world. It was because the Father so loved the children of His creation that He sent His only begotten Son so that many would learn. The wisdom He teaches is the wisdom of love. No matter His youth, He held within Him the wisdom of the Father. He lived the example of love and so He remained subject to His parents until His hour came. He did not just speak the Word, but lived as an example of the Word. He became the fulfillment of the Word and the blessing of the generations.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier